Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence, Planning for Alchemy
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[Lifespan: Seven hundred nineteen years, eleven months]
[Lifespan: Seven hundred nineteen years, ten months]
…
[Lifespan: Seven hundred nineteen years, three months]
"Xiao Hei!"
The letter slipped from Chen Jianghe's hand, fluttering to the ground. A look of horror crossed his face as he shot forward like an arrow to the edge of the spirit spring.
He looked at Xiao Hei at the bottom of the spring.
It was still hugging the Icy Triangle Python egg, cultivating.
But something was different.
Before, when Xiao Hei cultivated with the egg, its turtle eyes were slightly closed, a white vortex of air spiraling from its mouth to wrap around the Icy Triangle Python egg.
Although the cultivation method was a bit peculiar, he hadn't thought much of it.
Chen Jianghe had assumed Xiao Hei was devouring and refining the bloodline power within the Icy Triangle Python egg.
But now.
Xiao Hei's cultivation method seemed to have changed.
The earthy yellow patterns on its shell began to glow with a dim, dark yellow light, and this light flowed toward the Icy Triangle Python egg.
"The cracks are gone?"
As Chen Jianghe extended his spiritual sense, attempting to awaken Xiao Hei, he discovered that the cracks on the Icy Triangle Python egg had vanished.
The dense cracks, which had resembled a sunflower, were gone.
"Is Xiao Hei repairing the Icy Triangle Python egg's injuries?"
Chen Jianghe's brows furrowed.
Looking at the lifespan display on his spiritual platform, it had already dropped from seven hundred twenty years to seven hundred nineteen years and two months.
He was about to lose a full year of his life.
Without the slightest hesitation, he used his spiritual sense to try and wake Xiao Hei.
The Icy Triangle Python possessed a fourth-grade, lower-tier bloodline. Once hatched and properly nurtured, it had a chance of becoming a third-tier spirit beast.
This was an irresistible temptation for any immortal clan.
Chen Jianghe also wanted an Icy Triangle Python as a spirit pet, but if it came at the cost of his lifespan, he would rather not have the hatchling.
"My spiritual sense can't wake it?"
Chen Jianghe watched as his lifespan on the spiritual platform plummeted.
In just a quarter of an hour, he had lost a year of his life. If this continued for seven days, he would be dead.
"Xiao Hei, wake up!"
Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense surged into the Spirit Turtle Sigil on his spiritual platform, trying to use it to awaken Xiao Hei.
It worked.
The moment his spiritual sense touched the Spirit Turtle Sigil, Xiao Hei, who was in the middle of performing a secret art, opened its eyes.
Chen Jianghe saw exhaustion in Xiao Hei's eyes.
He had wanted to scold it for the sharp decline in his lifespan, but seeing Xiao Hei in this state, his voice softened.
"Xiao Hei, what are you doing?"
"Helping you hatch the egg."
Xiao Hei set down the Icy Triangle Python egg and, dragging its weary body, leaped out from the bottom of the spirit spring to Chen Jianghe's side.
Its eyes were tired, its demeanor listless.
Without a second thought, Chen Jianghe immediately took out a Jade Dew Pill and had Xiao Hei consume it.
The Jade Dew Flesh-Mending Incantation could heal injuries and also had a restorative effect on the mind.
After swallowing the Jade Dew Pill, Xiao Hei's spiritual state improved, but the fatigue in its eyes was difficult to dispel so quickly.
Continuously using a secret art for two years had taken a far greater toll on its mind than Chen Jianghe's talisman drawing.
"Hatching the egg? You know how?!"
Chen Jianghe was puzzled by Xiao Hei's words. It had said it didn't know how to hatch eggs before, so why was it saying so now?
Although he was anxious about his lifespan, he restrained himself and asked Xiao Hei in a gentle tone.
After all, his lifespan originated from Xiao Hei.
"Using the 'Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence' secret art to replenish the lost origin essence of this Icy Triangle Python egg."
"Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence?"
"It's a mystic turtle secret art I comprehended from the 'Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art'."
Xiao Hei explained the 'Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence' secret art to Chen Jianghe in detail. This was a secret art it had comprehended upon breaking through to the second tier.
It was the same principle as a cultivator comprehending a powerful spell from their cultivation art upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.
Chen Jianghe had always thought that spirit beasts only awakened innate abilities.
After all, as far as he knew, Xiao Hei was the only spirit beast capable of practicing a cultivation art.
He had never heard of any other spirit or demonic beast practicing one.
The 'Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence' that Xiao Hei had comprehended from the 'Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art' was similar to the 'Jade Dew Flesh-Mending Incantation'.
But it was also different.
The 'Jade Dew Flesh-Mending Incantation' could heal injuries.
But 'Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence' could restore one's origin. The origin turtle breath that Xiao Hei exhaled was very gentle, but its effects were incredibly slow.
Moreover, it was a low-consumption secret art.
But no matter how low the consumption, after more than two years, the mental toll was immense, leading to mental exhaustion.
"Then what's with my lifespan decreasing?"
After learning what Xiao Hei had been doing for the past two years and understanding the 'Turtle Breathing and Nurturing Essence' secret art, Chen Jianghe could no longer hold back his question about his lifespan.
Lifespan was what he valued most.
It was the only golden finger his spiritual platform had granted him.
He was now certain that the golden finger his spiritual platform had granted him was lifespan, while it had granted Xiao Hei talent and a cultivation art.
He just didn't know if the spiritual platform would grant him a new golden finger after he reached Core Formation.
After all, when Xiao Hei reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, the spiritual platform would grant it another opportunity. Since they were both bound to sigils on the spiritual platform, there was no need to be so biased, right?
"'Lifespan Transfer'. All spirit beasts can do it. Although it doesn't directly transfer lifespan, it can sustain a life and replenish vitality."
"The origin of this Icy Triangle Python egg has been replenished, but its life force has dissipated, making it difficult to hatch. It needs 'Lifespan Transfer'."
Xiao Hei's meaning was clear. The origin of the Icy Triangle Python egg had been restored, but its life force had been so severely depleted that it was almost a dead egg.
Its vitality was on the verge of completely vanishing.
Even if its origin was abundant, it would be better off eaten at that point.
"Xiao Hei, this Icy Triangle Python egg isn't a must-have. Lifespan is our most important asset on the path of cultivation."
"In the future, no matter what happens, you are not to consume your own lifespan. Do you understand?"
Chen Jianghe said with great solemnity.
"It's fine, don't worry about me. Using 'Lifespan Transfer' doesn't consume my lifespan."
Xiao Hei said with a wide grin.
"..."
Chen Jianghe pursed his lips and shot Xiao Hei a glare. He felt that Xiao Hei was carrying out a personal vendetta.
It was acting under the guise of helping him, but in reality, it was doing something to harm him.
"That's still not allowed. You are never to use 'Lifespan Transfer' again, under any circumstances," Chen Jianghe said seriously.
"What if you were about to die?" Xiao Hei asked just as seriously.
"How could I possibly be about to die?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Xiao Hei with displeasure, but still added, "If my life is in danger, you can use any secret art."
"..."
Xiao Hei was speechless.
Indeed, two-legged beasts sure love their double standards.
"So, do we still want this Icy Triangle Python egg? Its vitality hasn't been fully replenished yet. If not, I'll just eat it."
Xiao Hei pointed a claw at the beast egg in the eye of the spirit spring.
"How much more lifespan is needed?"
"About a year."
"...A year. That's acceptable."
Chen Jianghe looked at the lifespan displayed on his spiritual platform. It was down to seven hundred nineteen years. He had already lost one year; he couldn't give up halfway.
The Icy Triangle Python possessed a fourth-grade, lower-tier bloodline, giving it a thirty percent innate chance of condensing a demonic core. If a third-tier demonic core was added, its chances would increase to fifty percent, allowing it to become a third-tier demonic beast.
Two years of lifespan in exchange for a hatchling with the potential to condense a demonic core.
It was a good deal.
After getting Chen Jianghe's permission, Xiao Hei jumped into the spirit spring, picked up the Icy Triangle Python egg, and continued to use 'Lifespan Transfer' to fill the beast egg with vitality.
A quarter of an hour later.
Chen Jianghe felt utterly dejected. He, who had always been frugal, had indulged in a luxury today, truly experiencing what it meant for a day to feel like a year.
Although it was worth it, the pain of consuming his lifespan was truly agonizing.
That quarter of an hour had been equivalent to a year passing.
[Lifespan: Seven hundred eighteen years]
Xiao Hei grabbed the beast egg and leaped out of the spirit spring. At this moment, the beast egg was radiating a dense spiritual energy and a strong life force.
"How does it feel?"
Xiao Hei held the beast egg with a single claw, showing it off in front of Chen Jianghe.
"Not good at all. It cost me two years of my life and delayed your cultivation for two years."
Chen Jianghe's face was grim. He took a deep breath and asked, "When will the Icy Triangle Python hatchling break out of its shell?"
"The water from the eye of the spirit spring is gentle and rich in spiritual energy. At most, it will take three years for the Icy Triangle Python hatchling to hatch."
As Xiao Hei spoke, it tossed the Icy Triangle Python egg into the air, enveloped it in its spiritual power, and placed it back in the eye of the spirit spring.
"Alright. You should hurry up and cultivate to make up for the two years you lost."
Chen Jianghe instructed solemnly.
Afterward, he flew out of the mountain-protecting formation and saw Ruan Tieniu waiting outside, his body still stained with blood. He must have just returned from the Arctic Snow Forest or the Boundless Sea.
He must be in urgent need of the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, which was why he had sought out Chen Jianghe as soon as he returned.
"Brother Chen, I was wondering about the progress of the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill?"
Ruan Tieniu was indeed very anxious. The first thing he asked upon seeing Chen Jianghe was about the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
He was now capable of using the pill to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
He certainly didn't want any delays.
Only after reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment would he have the confidence to venture deeper into the Arctic Snow Forest or the Boundless Sea.
At that point, his chances of obtaining top-tier second-tier spirit materials would be much higher.
A Spirit-Nurturing defensive artifact was his current goal.
As long as he had a Spirit-Nurturing defensive artifact and a few other tricks up his sleeve, he would dare to enter the Arctic Snow Forest with those late-stage Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators.
"I'm preparing to refine it. I'll have news for you in a month, Brother Ruan," Chen Jianghe said calmly.
"A month? That long."
"This is the Ice Heart Grass."
Chen Jianghe didn't waste words, directly taking out a stalk of Ice Heart Grass and presenting it to Ruan Tieniu.
The meaning was self-evident.
If he thought the time was too long, he could take the Ice Heart Grass and leave.
"Haha, Brother Chen, you misunderstand. I didn't mean to complain, it was just a slip of the tongue. Please, Brother Chen, help me ask Fairy Jiang to refine the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill."
Ruan Tieniu offered an apologetic smile.
However, he was puzzled, sensing that Chen Jianghe's mood seemed off.
Did he have a fight with Luo Xiyue?
Was he in a bad mood?
Hearing Ruan Tieniu's words, Chen Jianghe put away the Ice Heart Grass and said, "Brother Ruan, you can go back first. Within a month, regardless of success or failure, I will give you an answer."
"Uh... alright!"
Ruan Tieniu was now certain that he must have argued with Luo Xiyue, which was why he was feeling down.
"By the way, I saw Fairy Peiyao in the Arctic Snow Forest. She has also come to Thousand Mountains Market City. Did you know, Brother Chen?" Ruan Tieniu added.
He was trying to curry favor with Chen Jianghe by offering information.
"Yes, I know. She's also staying on Golden Turtle Mountain."
"...Farewell."
Hearing Chen Jianghe's reply, Ruan Tieniu cursed inwardly, then bid farewell and flew away quickly.
After watching Ruan Tieniu leave, Chen Jianghe returned to Golden Turtle Mountain.
The loss of lifespan had left him somewhat agitated, so he didn't go to see Luo Xiyue and Jiang Ruxu right away.
He first needed to calm his restless heart.
Two years of lifespan might seem insignificant, but at a critical moment, it could be the hope for a breakthrough. If Yu Daniu had these two years, he might have a chance at Foundation Establishment.
Chen Jianghe sat in meditation under the Dragon Pattern Red Pine for an hour. After his mind calmed, he stood up.
Chen Jianghe's spiritual sense touched the formation jade pendant, leaving messages for both Luo Xiyue and Jiang Ruxu. He would see whoever wasn't in seclusion first.
The Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was important.
The special artifact, Thousand Illusions, was equally important to him.
He needed Thousand Illusions for the bartering fair.
After ten breaths.
The formation jade pendant flashed with two faint lights. He pointed a finger at the voice-recording bamboo, and the voices of both Luo Xiyue and Jiang Ruxu sounded at the same time.
"...? They're both free!"
Chen Jianghe was a bit exasperated. If he had known, he would have asked one first and then the other.
After a moment of contemplation.
Chen Jianghe decided to see Luo Xiyue first.
Refining the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill would require purchasing supplementary materials and a trip to the market city, and he would need to supervise the entire process.
After all, opportunities to observe like this were rare.
He naturally wanted to learn as much as he could.
Finding Luo Xiyue was much simpler. He just needed to give her the materials and ask her to help with the artifact refinement. He didn't know how to refine artifacts anyway.
Nor did he need to observe.
Immediately, he sent a voice transmission to Luo Xiyue, asking her to open a corner of the isolation formation.
When he arrived at the Waterfall Abode, he saw that only Luo Xiyue was there, which reminded him of Ruan Tieniu's words.
It seemed Gao Peiyao had entered the Arctic Snow Forest.
It appeared that being a disciple of the Tiannan Sect was not easy; they often needed to venture into dangerous places.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, I wonder if you have time recently? Could you help me refine Thousand Illusions?"
As Chen Jianghe spoke, he took out the three main materials for refining Thousand Illusions.
Illusion God Jade, Hundred Refinements Wood, and Netherworld Stone.
"Three thousand spirit stones. Come pick it up in a month," Luo Xiyue said in her cool voice.
"Alright."
Without another word, Chen Jianghe took out three thousand spirit stones and gave them to Luo Xiyue.
Helping him refine the special artifact Thousand Illusions was something Luo Xiyue had promised before. The request for spirit stones was naturally for purchasing supplementary materials.
Picking it up in a month meant that Luo Xiyue was going to refine the artifact for him right away.
This was already showing him considerable favor.
Some time ago, when he was at the Talisman Master Alliance, he had heard the talisman masters and grandmasters discussing things.
They had mentioned Luo Xiyue, the artifact refining grandmaster.
Many cultivators came to seek Luo Xiyue's help in refining artifacts.
Even direct descendants of the Cen Clan wanted to ask Luo Xiyue to refine artifacts for them, among them Cen Linchuan.
With more and more disciples from sects and top immortal clans coming to Thousand Mountains Market City recently, there were also many descendants of top immortal clans seeking Luo Xiyue's services.
There were even sect disciples.
So, Luo Xiyue was very busy now. For her to prioritize refining an artifact for Chen Jianghe was already quite remarkable.
If he were to ask her to cover the cost of the supplementary materials as well, he would be rather shameless.
"An enemy of ours has come to Thousand Mountains Market City."
Just as Chen Jianghe was about to leave, Luo Xiyue spoke faintly, causing him to stop in his tracks, his expression stunned.
He was puzzled. What common enemy did he and Luo Xiyue have?
Besides, what enemies did he have?
Since he began cultivating, he had been kind and generous to others, forming only good relationships. How could he have any enemies?
"Who?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"The person who ambushed us on the Immortal Wandering River," Luo Xiyue's eyes flashed with a murderous glint that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Lu Qingming?"
Chen Jianghe remembered the young master in brocade robes who had ambushed him alongside the rogue cultivators. He had learned from Duan Tiande's mouth that this young master was a direct descendant of the Puppet Immortal Lu Clan, Lu Qingming.
In truth, if one were to speak of enmity with Lu Qingming, it should be Chen Jianghe who held the grudge, since he was the one they had intended to kill.
As for provoking Luo Xiyue?
That was entirely collateral damage.
If Luo Xiyue hadn't been with Chen Jianghe at the time, she wouldn't have encountered Lu Qingming.
But seeing the murderous intent in Luo Xiyue's eyes, Chen Jianghe knew that Lu Qingming was now on her blacklist.
However, even if he wasn't on Luo Xiyue's blacklist, Chen Jianghe would have taken action against Lu Qingming himself.
He would have just done it a bit later.
"Seventeen years ago, Lu Qingming ambushed us. I didn't expect him to come to Thousand Mountains Market City."
Chen Jianghe asked, "But he is from the Lu Clan. What do you plan to do, Fellow Daoist Luo?"
"If he enters the secret realm, kill him."
Luo Xiyue said coldly.
"Er~"
Chen Jianghe grumbled inwardly. This ice beauty had such a strong killing intent.
But then he remembered how the Feng brothers had merely scanned Luo Xiyue with their spiritual sense and had been robbed of four spirit materials and the Myriad Waters True Scripture, Foundation Establishment Volume.
For Lu Qingming to dare ambush Luo Xiyue, he deserved to die.
However, the other party might not enter the secret realm.
Even if he did, getting rid of him wasn't as simple as just saying it.
Lu Qingming was a direct descendant of the Lu Clan. He couldn't be killed in public, or it would trigger a manhunt by the Lu Clan.
Luo Xiyue wasn't afraid of the Lu Clan, but Chen Jianghe currently couldn't withstand their wrath.
A single False Core Rogue Cultivator could force him to use all his tricks and still not guarantee his survival.
Chen Jianghe felt that dealing with Lu Qingming required caution. It would be best to have a complete plan and not act rashly.
But if he said this now, Luo Xiyue wouldn't listen to him.
His cultivation was too low, his words lacked weight.
In Luo Xiyue's eyes, she didn't need Chen Jianghe's help to get rid of Lu Qingming.
However, Chen Jianghe was entering the secret realm with Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao. If Luo Xiyue killed Lu Qingming, she wouldn't fear the Lu Clan.
The Lu Clan wouldn't dare to trouble Gao Peiyao either.
They would definitely take their anger out on him, a rogue cultivator.
Therefore, Chen Jianghe planned to cultivate to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and accumulate some resources before discussing the matter with Luo Xiyue at length.
By then, his words would carry some weight.
Leaving the Waterfall Abode, Chen Jianghe went to the Clear Sound Pavilion at the Turtle's Tail. He only saw Jiang Ruxu, but not Zhuang Xinyan.
"Is Xinyan in seclusion cultivating?"
"Senior Sister is practicing puppetry. Ever since you gave her the puppetry inheritance, Big Brother Chen, she has been diligently studying the way of puppets."
"The way of puppets?"
Chen Jianghe had thought Zhuang Xinyan would study the way of talismans, but unexpectedly, she had chosen the way of puppets.
This reminded him that when Zhuang Xinyan was choosing, she had asked him whether puppets or talismans were more useful.
He himself practiced the way of talismans, so it wouldn't be of much use to him if Zhuang Xinyan also studied it.
He just hadn't expected that Zhuang Xinyan would actually follow his line of thinking and study the way of puppets.
"Does Xinyan have a talent for the way of puppets?" Chen Jianghe asked with concern.
After all, she had chosen based on his suggestion, so he should show some concern.
Besides, it was only right to care for a junior.
"Senior Sister has a good talent for the way of puppets. It only took her a year to get started."
Jiang Ruxu said joyfully, "Senior Sister can now create first-tier, lower-grade puppets."
"Not bad, very good."
Chen Jianghe was pleased and nodded in satisfaction.
Once Zhuang Xinyan's puppetry skills improved to the first-tier, middle-grade, he could buy some first-tier, middle-grade puppets from her.
"Ruxu, how are your alchemy skills coming along?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"My success rate for refining second-tier, lower-grade spirit pills is very high now. I'm preparing to try refining some ordinary second-tier, middle-grade spirit pills."
Jiang Ruxu smiled proudly.
It seemed like she was showing off, yet also presenting a treasure.
"In two years at most, I'll be able to refine second-tier, middle-grade Water Spirit Pills for you, Big Brother Chen."
The five-element spirit pills for nurturing spirit beasts were divided into upper, middle, and lower grades, corresponding to the late, middle, and early stages of a spirit beast's second-tier cultivation.
Once Xiao Hei and Maoqiu reached the middle stage of the second tier, they would need second-tier, middle-grade Water Spirit Pills to continue cultivating with them.
"How many Water Spirit Pills do you have on hand right now?"
Chen Jianghe asked.
"Fifteen."
"Good, give them all to me."
Chen Jianghe took out seven thousand five hundred spirit stones and gave them to Jiang Ruxu, taking the fifteen Water Spirit Pills.
Xiao Hei had woken up and needed to start cultivating. He had to prepare Water Spirit Pills for it so as not to delay its progress.
Two years had already been wasted, which pained Chen Jianghe greatly. Fortunately, it hadn't affected his plans for the secret realm.
"By the way, don't start with entry-level second-tier, middle-grade pills. Go straight to refining the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill."
Chen Jianghe looked at Jiang Ruxu and said.
"Ah?! Refine the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill? That's a top-tier pill among second-tier, middle-grade spirit pills."
Jiang Ruxu's small mouth gaped in surprise. She said timidly, "I might fail."
"Besides, isn't that stalk of Ice Heart Grass something Fellow Daoist Ruan pawned with us?"
Jiang Ruxu's personality was also quite cautious.
Only because her success rate with second-tier, lower-grade pills was very high would she attempt to refine second-tier, middle-grade pills.
So, if she were to refine the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill directly, she would have a success rate, but it would be very low.
However, she had Alchemist Zhuang's notes on refining the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
This undoubtedly increased her success rate by ten percent. If she were to refine the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, she could achieve a forty percent success rate.
In her view, this success rate was still too low.
Therefore, Jiang Ruxu told Chen Jianghe the true state of her alchemy skills and her success rate.
Most importantly, the Ice Heart Grass they had was pawned by Ruan Tieniu. According to their agreement, he could redeem it with spirit stones.
"A forty percent success rate? That's already very high. When your master refined the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill back then, her success rate was probably less than forty percent."
"Don't worry about the Ice Heart Grass."
"The stalk you have is for helping Ruan Tieniu refine it. If you succeed, he gets one Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill."
"And you don't need to feel any pressure. If you fail the first time, just try a second time. I have another stalk of Ice Heart Grass on hand."
As Chen Jianghe spoke, he took out a stalk of Ice Heart Grass.
This was the one Yun Xiaoniu had given him. If he successfully refined the Ice Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, he would also save one for Yun Xiaoniu.